Dallas Mavericks Blog

Mavericks won’t pick up Dominique Jones’ fourth-year option

LOS ANGELES _ The Mavericks have elected not to exercise their fourth-year option on Dominique Jones, meaning the backup guard will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

NBA teams have until Wednesday night to pick up the fourth-year option on players who still are on their rookie contracts, such as Jones.

With the new collective-bargaining agreement creating new financial realities, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said the Mavericks won’t extend Jones.

The Mavericks also have two players, guards Darren Collison and Roddy Beaubois, who are going into their fourth seasons. Both had their fourth-year options picked up and after this season, the Mavericks will have to decide whether to tender a qualifying offer to both players, the amount of which is based on where each was drafted.

For Collison, it would be $3.34 million for the 2013-14 season. For Beaubois, it would be $3.27 million. Once they receive the qualifying offer, they would be restricted free agents, meaning the Mavericks could match any contract offer another team gives them.

For Jones, becoming a free agent next summer obviously puts added pressure on his performance this season.

But he said he’s going to be comfortable no matter what.

“I’m prepared for anything,’’ Jones said. “Nothing would surprise me. If they don’t, they don’t. If they do, they do.”